Accessible hiking trails workshop and a hike on "Jūrtaka" - Baltic Coastal Hiking" for the Year of E9 / November 7-8
11.10.2023
The community of hiking enthusiasts continues to grow; therefore, the Latvian Rural Tourism Association "Lauku ceļotājs" has come up with an initiative to make long-distance hiking routes "The Forest Trail / Mežtaka" and "The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route / Jūrtaka" more accessible to various segments of the society, including families with young children, seniors, people with mobility difficulties, or other limitations. In collaboration with organizations representing these community groups and project partners from Latvia and Estonia, environmental accessibility solutions will be developed, providing the opportunity for a wider range of the community to enjoy the hiking experience.
>>> Summary (presentations, photos, videos)
Accessible hiking trails workshop and a hike on "Jūrtaka" - Baltic Coastal Hiking" for the Year of E9.
On November 7th, a workshop will take place at the Zvejniekciems Cultural Center in the Saulkrasti Municipality, where participants from Norway, England, Italy, Estonia, and Latvia will share practical experience and solutions for enhancing the environmental accessibility of hiking for various community groups. A representative from The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities will discuss how municipalities plan and implement accessibility in their areas. A representative from the European Ramblers Association will also be part of the seminar. This organization has declared 2023 as the Year of the E9 Long-Distance Hiking Route, particularly promoting it. "Jūrtaka" is part of the E9 route in the Baltic States. After presentations and discussions on the evening of November 7th, participants will embark on a hike in the "Jūrtaka" section in Saulkrasti. On November 8th, a hike is planned from Lilaste to Carnikava, where an environmental accessibility solution for people in wheelchairs will be developed as part of the project. Everyone interested, especially participants from the target groups included in the project, are invited to explore the needs of these groups for environmental adaptation together.
>>> Workshop and Hiking Program (in English, PDF).
(The working language of the event is English.)